Compare towns
Highgate vs Jay vs Troy vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Troy has the oldest population (median age 65.3).
Vernon has the most renters (23.8% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Highgate | Jay | Troy | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
471 |
219Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
65.3±26.4Highest 52% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Troy and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
51.1%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Troy and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$91,688±$8kHighest 13% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
| Troy and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$187,500±$46kLowest 41% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— | — | $1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$2,480Lowest 51% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
— | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
13.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.7%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.